Prison faces overcrowding

By JASON DOM
THE women’s wing at Bomana prison in Port Moresby is overcrowded with 54 inmates, including three children, crammed into a dormitory meant to hold only 35.
Senior Inspector Agnes Kunjil told The National yesterday that some inmates had to sleep on the floor because there were not enough beds.
“There are 31 convicted inmates, 18 on remand to await their court cases and five children below five years old all crammed into the dormitory,” she said.
Because of the lack of space, inmates are allowed to keep only a few personal items.
Kunjil said more women were being sent to the prison by the courts although there had been no additional space had been provided to cater for the extra detainees.
She said accommodation was a serious issue at the women’s wing, which needed to be addressed.
Kunjil also said the prison uniforms were old which needed to be changed, plus the towels. She also raised the concern about the quality of tinned food supplied which some inmates could not eat because there was too much salt.